Liquid handling means



April 7; 1948. E. E. WEMP 2,440,624

LIQUID HANDLING MEANS Filed March 16, 1944 4 Shee'ts-Sheec 1 f 1 E l.

INVENTOR. .fr'nesf f. Wemp April 27, 1948. E. E. WEMP LIQUID HANDLING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1944 0, m WW N WE m April 27, 1948. E. E. WEMP 2,440,624

LIQUID HANDLING MEANS Filed March 16, 1944- 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1N VEN TOR. Ernesf 5 Wemp April 27, 1948. E. E. WEMP 2,440,624

LIQUID HANDLING MEANS Filed March 16, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Ernesf E. Wsmp the liquid acted upon.

. der pressure.

Patented Apr. 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE K 'ucum $23G means ErnestE. Wemp, Detroit, men. Application March 16, 19, Serial No. 528,710

'2 Claims. 01. roe-11) This invention relates to thepumping of liquid and to the providing of liquid'pressure, and it has to do particularly with adevice for pumping liquid, and when"desired. for maintaining liquid under pressure in the absence of flow of In accordance with the invention .a pump is provided in the nature of a Pitot tubeand a shell or chamber cooperating therewith so that relative movement is obtained between the-Pitot tube and a body of liquid. duce a centrifugal head and velocityheadin the liquid and since both of thesefactors vary with the square of the speed thelpressure'maybe varied and controlled'by the speedof operation. The device may be used solely as a pump for moving liquid or as an operating mechanism which may. at times, operate to move and cause flow of liquid, and at other times to merely hold theliquid imwith little or no liquid flow. The pump structure of the present invention, which embodies the Pitot tube eonstruction,;may be employed also in combination withanother pump wherein the Pitot pump serves as a pressure regulator, and may at times, supplement the pumping actio and may at times, function as a relief for the other pumping device. The accompanying drawings disclose the invention as it may be incorporated as a part-of a controlling means for a centrifugal clutch in an automotive vehicle. However, the pumping mechanism of the invention may be used in any other connection.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view taken through a clutch housing of an automotive vehicle showing the clutch structure and illustrating the pump of the invention associated therewith.

I Fig. 2 is a view taken through the pump substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing operated means associated with the pump.

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of one side of. the pump looking substantially on line 3-3 oi Fig. 1.

Fig. dis a detailed view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

- Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modifled form where two pumping agencies are employed. r V I Fig. 6 is a view taken substantially on line 6--6 of Fig. 5 showing operated mechanism associated with the pump. v

Fig. 'I is a detailed view taken substantially online1-, -|ofFig.5.

The illustration of the pumping apparatus constituing the present invention as associated with part of the operating or controlling means The pump function to proof a centrifugal clutch is given for convenience in the understanding of the operation. -To this end a bell housing is illustrated at I. and the engine fly wheel 2 constitutes one driving member of the clutch. A pressure plate 3 constitutes the other driving member of the clutch. A driven disc 4 lies between the iiy wheel and the pressure move outwardly under centrifugal force and cause plate and it is 'ment and disengagement mounted on a shaft 5 which, so far as the clutch is concerned, is a'driven shaft. but so far as the pump is concerned. is the driving shaft. Springs 6 serve to retract the pressure plate for clutch disengagement. Clutch levers l are pivoted as at 8 and have weights 9 which clutch engagement by shifting the pressure plate through the means of the contact i0. A'clutch control member I I engages the clutch levers and this member I I may beshifted back and forth for controlling the clutch through the means or a controlling rock shaft l2 and yoke arms 13 having a connection with the member II. It will be understood that centrifugal force will cause clutch engagement, and that, falling of! of centriiugal force, may result in clutch'disengagement and that the clutch may be controlled for engageby the rocking of the shaft l2.

The bell housing is provided with a partition I5 which provides a sump it for liquid, such as a suitable oil. There is a shell member mounted on the shaft 5 for rotation therewith, as by means of a hub l1, the shell having one side wall It, an I outer peripheral wall is and another side wall 20 which has an opening in its inner region advantageously concentric with the shaft as shown at 2 i. A support member 25 may be attached to the wall I! so that it is non-rotatable, and this member has an outwardly extending arm 26 which preferably extends downwardly. This arm is advantageously of streamline form in cross section and has a streamlined head 21 positioned adjacent the outer region of the shell. The member and arm are provided with a passageway 28 and the passageway has an open end 29,shown in Fig. 2. The passageway communicateswith a suitable outlet conduit 30 which may extend out through the housing I. as shown in Fig. 2.

The sump i6 is provided with a suitable quan-,

tity of liquid and when the shaft 5 is rotated the shell rotates with it and means is provided to keep a supply of the liquid in the shell. One way of supplying liquid to the shell is by the means of an Archimedes spiral which may be associated with one side wall of the shell. As shown in Fig. 1, there are two sheet metal plates placed in face to face relationship and one of which at 32 may be fiat and the other of which at 53 may be provided with spiral depressions 34, to provide spiral passageways 35. As shown at Fig. 3, there are two of such spiral formations and the outer and open end of each may be flared as at 38 to provide a scoop-like opening. The inner end of each spiral passage communicates into the shell through a port 31.

As the shell rotates, the liquid which gravitates to the bottom of the sump, is scooped up by the outer open ends of the Archimedes screw passages and the liquid is caused to flow through the passages and caused to discharge into the shell through the ports 31. Due to the fact that there is a considerable splashing of liquid, some liquid may be supplied to the shell through the means of a trough 38 which is inclined so that the liquid flows therefrom and into a groove 39 in the member 25 from where the liquid discharges into the shell. It is, of course, desired that when the shell rotates the body of liquid therein rotates to thus develop centrifugal head and velocity head for the operation of the pump. To this end, one or more of the side walls of the shell may be provided with vanes or blades 40 and 4] for causing rotation of the liquid with the shell.

Before proceeding with a discussion of the operation of the pump. it may be considered in connection with operated or controlled mechanism. as shown in Fig. 2. This operated mechanism is shown only as exemplary of numerous devices which may be used in connection with the pump. The outlet conduit 30 extends through the wall of the housing I to a control valve. The valve body has an inlet port to which the conduit 30 connects, and two ports connecting to conduits 46 and 41 which extend to opposite ends of a cylinder 48 having a piston therein, the rod 49 of which connects to a crank arm 50 which, for example. may be on and for controlling the rock shaft l2 of the clutch. In Fig. 2 the controlled mechani'sm is displaced at right angles to the housing for purposes of clarity. The valve body has two ports communicating to the sump as at 5| and 52. A valve member 53 may be magnetically controlled by a solenoid in a housing portion 54, and the valve member has a land 55, a land 56, and a land 58. In the position shown in Fig. 2, liquid moved by the pump flows through the conduit 30. between the lands 55 and 58. through conduit 46 and into the cylinder for rocking the shaft l2 counterclockwise. Liquid in the opposite end of the cylinder is displaced through conduit 41, between lands 58 and 55 and back to the sump through port 52. When the valve 53 is elevated, the land 55 moves to the opposite sides of the inlet port and the liquid from the pump passes into line 41 to cause the shaft I 2 to shift clockwise and the displaced liquid basses back through line 46, between the lands 55 and 58 and to the sump through port 5|. This may serve as a control for the clutch. In the position shown in Fig. 2, the liquid pressure exerts itself so as to act upon the clutch and tend to shift the clutch control bearing H to the right as Fig. 1 is viewed thus supplementing centrifugal force in the clutch engaging function. When the control valve is shifted the clutch control member I l is shifted to the left to effect clutch disengagement.

In the operation of the pump, the Archimedes spiral or the splash trough arrangement, keeps the shell supplied with liquid and any overflow passes back to the sump through the opening 2!. The opening 29 of the Pitot tube faces the moving liquid with the shell rotating in counter-clockwise direction, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2. The

pressure exerted at the opening 29 varies with the rotating shell merely flows past the arm and the head of the Pitot tube. The structure is nicely adapted for the control of a centrifugal clutch since the centrifugal force of the clutch engaging means and the pressure aflorded by the pump both vary with the square of the speed. Therefore, at any R. P. M. there is an adequate liquid pressure available for disengaging the clutch. When the parts come to rest, the liquid in the shell will drain out of the shell down to the level of the opening 2| so that the Pitot tube remains submerged. Upon initial starting this quantity of liquid will be picked up force, and of suflicient depth to submerge the head of the Pitot tube. Accordingly, the pump is one which will not only furnish a flow of liquid minimum of resistance. Also the pressure provided varies with the square of the speed as above pointed out.

In Figs. 5 and 6 a modified form is shown. In this form those parts which are the same as those heretofore described are given the same reference characters thus dispensing with the one previously described but it is not provided with means such as the Archimedes screw for supplying liquid thereto. The Pitot tube 5| is carried on a member 52 and its passage is shown at 63. A gear pump takes the form of a housing provided by a housing part 54 and the flange 55 of the member 62 which are secured together by cap screws. One gear 66 is keyed to the shaft 5. A cooperating gear 61 is journalled on a pin 58 which may extend through the partition i5 and the housing parts 54 and 65.

The gear pump casing is provided with a passageway, advantageously in a form of a circumferential groove 80, formed in the flange 55 concentric with the shaft 5. The passageway 53 communicates into the groove as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. This groove communicates with the high pressure side of the pump in the chamber 8| as illustrated by the dotted line area 82 in Fig. '7. The chamber 83 or the low side of the pump is connected by a tube 93 to the bottom of the sump, this being an inlet tube. The outlet tube 95 extends through the housing I and to a suitable operated or controlled means, shown in Fig. 6 as being the same structure as that shown in Fig. 2. Further description of this operated means is unnecessary.

, Thus it will be seen that, in this modified construction, there are two pumps, namely, the gear pump and the Pitot tube pump. Normally the gear pump, with the gears rotating in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 7, pumps liquid pressure on the liquid from the sump through theinlet tube 93 and through the outlet tube 95 to the operated or controlled mechanism. It .will be seen, however, that the gear pump is not one designed to nicely maintain pressure on the liquid while there is no flow. The Pitot tube also acts as a pump and pumps liquid into the channel 80 which communicates with the high pressure chamber ll of the gear pump. The Pitot tube functions as a controlling element and in thisregard it has several functions. Under some conditions it may perform a pumping action to supplement the pumping action of the gear pump. It also acts as a pressure regulator and at times may function as a pressure relief. The use of the gear pump may provide a quicker pressure condition when the parts are started from an at-rest condition. Under certain conditions, when the control valve is shifted requiring a flow of liquid into the cylinder, both pumps may function to pump the liquid through the outlet line 95. This steps up the rate of flow. When a static situation is reached where the flow of the liquid under pressure is at zero, then the Pitot tube acts as an overflow or relief for the gear pump. At this time, the liquid moved by the gear pump into the high side chamber 8| flows backwardly through the Pitot tube and into the shell 60 against the resistance of the then centrifugal and velocity head of the rotating .body of liquid. This is the reason the shell- 60 need not be provided with means for keeping it supplied with liquid. Also at this time, the Pitot tube acts as a pressure regulator, the pressure depending upon the centrifugal head and velocity head determined by the speed of rotation. There may be various intermediate conditions of speed of rotation and direction of the rotating shell, said tube serving to supplement the pumping action and to govern the pressure on the outlet side of the pump.

pressure requirements where the Pitot tube serves to control the pressure and in some of these in termediate conditions the liquid in the Pitot tube may be moving into the pressure chamber to supplement the gear pump or out of the pressure chamber 8| to serve as a relief.

I claim:

Liquid handling means comprising, a gear pump having an outlet, a rotatable shell adapted to contain liquid and to cause rotation of the liquid therein so that the liquid has a centrifugal head and a velocity head and a tube in the shell having an open end submerged in the liquid and facing in a direction opposite the direction of the rotation of the shell and connected to the outlet of said pump whereby to serve as a supplemental pump. and as a pressure regulator for the outlet side of said pump.

2. Liquid handling means comprising, a sump for liquid, an operating shaft, a gear pump for the liquid having an outlet, a shell mounted on the shaft for rotation within the sump, said shell adapted to contain liquid and to cause rotation of the liquid therein so that the liquid has a centrifugal head and a velocity head, and a tube in the shell having an opened end submerged in the liquid and facing in a direction opposite the direction of the rotation of the shell, said tube being connected to the outlet side of the gear pump.

3. Liquid pumping means comprising, a sump chamber, anoperating shaft in the chamber, a gear pump operated by the shaft for pumping liquid from the sump and having a high pressure side, a shell in the sump chamber and mounted on the shaft for rotation, said shell adapted to rotation of the liquid has a centrifugal head contain liquid and cause therein so that the liquid 4. Pumping means for liquid comprising, a sump chamber for containing liquid, .a substantially horizontal shaft, a shell mounted on the shaft, said shell having spaced walls with one wall keyed to the shaft and the other having an opening around the shaft, a Pitot tube member within the shell having an open end disposed in close proximity to the inner peripheral wall of the shell, a fixedly mounted supporting portion extending through the opening in the shell, there being a passage'through the Pitot tube member and the supporting portion with the passage in the supporting portion disposed along side of and adjacent the shaft, whereby rotation of the shell imparts centrifugal head and velocity head to the liquid therein to force the liquid out through the passage, and means for moving liquid from tggusump for the discharge of the same into the s v 5. Pumping means for liquid comprising, a sump chamber for containing liquid, a substantially horizontal shaft, a shell mounted on the shaft, said shell having spaced walls with one wall keyed to the shaft and the other having an opening around the shaft, a Pitot tube member within the shell having an open end disposed in close proximity to the inner peripheral wall of the shell, a fixedly mounted supporting portion extending through the opening in the shell, there being a passage through the Pitot tube member and the supporting portion withthe passage in the supporting portion disposed alongside of and adjacent the shaft, whereby rotation of the shell imparts centrifugal head and velocity head to the liquid therein to force the liquid out through the passage, and an Archimedes spiral positioned adjacent one of the said walls of the shell havin an open outer end arranged to dip into the liquid and an inner end in communication with the interior of the shell for moving liquid from the sump chamber into the shell.

6. Pumping means for liquid comprising, a sump chamber for containing liquid, a substantially horizontal shaft, a shell mounted on the shaft, said shell having spaced walls with one wall keyed to the shaft and the other having an opening around the shaft, a Pitot tube member within the shell having an open end disposed in close proximity to the inner peripheral wall of the shell, a fixedly mounted supporting portion extending through the opening in the shell, there being a passage through the Pitot tube member and the supporting portion with the passage in the supporting portion disposed along side of and adjacent the shaft, whereby rotation of the shell imparts centrifugal head and velocity head to the liquid therein to force the liquid out through the passage, a pair of plates incorporated into one of the walls of the shell and fashioned to provide a closed Archimedes spiral, the outer end of the spiral being open and arranged to dipinto the liquid, a port connecting the inner end of the spiral to the inside of the shell with the port positioned adjacent the shaft for moving liquid from the sump chamber into the shell.

7. Pumping means for liquid comprising, a sump chamber for containing liquid, a substantially horizontal shaft, a shell mounted on the reason oi. rotation of the shell and arranged to 701,006 Germany 1941 flow and discharge the liquid through the opening in the shell.

ERNEST E. Wm.

7 8 shaft and arranged to dip intothe liquid, said shell having spaced walls with one wall keyedto REFERENCES CITED the shaft and the other having an opening around The following references are of record in the the shaft. a Pitot tube member within the shell file Of i Patent: having an open end disposed in close proximity 5 UNITED to the inner peripheral wall 01 the shell, a fixedly STATES PATENTS g mounted supporting portion extending through Number N me Date the-opening in the shell. there being a passage 846,971 m fl Mar. 12, 1907 through the Pitot tube member and the support- 3 son Oct. 29, 1918 ing portion with the passage in the supporting 10 1,927,799 Mann Sent. 1 1933 portion disposed along side 01' and adjacent the 23651896 Goldschmied 1 shaft, whereby rotation of the shell imparts cen- 2,284,933 Allen J1me 9 2 tritugal head and velocity head to the liquid m therein to force the liquid out through the pas- FOREIGN PA sage, and a trough disposed in the sump chamber 15 Number Cwntry Date above the shaft for catching liquid splashed by 50,777 Germany 1890 

